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133
The number of houses inspected similarly in preceding years
were 1746, 1501, 1447, 1548, 2250, 1341, 806, 534, 789, and 1355
from 1901 to 1910 respectively.
Crowding and Overcrowding.—During the year 121 cases
of overcrowding were dealt with and abated: 49 of these were in
registered houses. Thirty-four were discovered as the result of
house to house inspection.
Thirty-one complaints of overcrowding were received, but only
21 of these were substantiated on enquiry. As a result of these
visits, however, 13 other cases of overcrowding were discovered
in the houses complained of.
In the area covered by the systematic house to house inspection,
2,069 families occupied 4,440 rooms, or 2.14 rooms per family.
Of the total number of rooms inspected, 5.1 per cent. were empty
—this shows that the crowding is not due to lack of accommodation.
Special Investigation.—In 1911 a special enquiry was
made into 50 consecutive cases of overcrowding, 35 in Clerkenwell,
15 in St. Lukes.
Two of the families consisted of 11 persons each, and occupied
two-roomed tenements. Four families consisted of 10 persons
each, and also occupied two-roomed tenements. In these cases
the kitchens were used for living and sleeping.

Two of the families, although they were already otherwise
overcrowded, were actually taking in lodgers.
The occupations of the fathers were as follows:—Carmen, 11;
labourers, 9; street hawkers, 4; porters, 4; ice cream vendors,